The California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) tends to elicit negative responses from MFT registered interns, trainees, and students, and probably for good reason. The “horror stories” relating to therapists’ experiences with the BBS seem endless at times, and unfortunately, these stories can contribute to feelings of stress that are already being experienced by aspiring marriage and family therapists. Avoiding these five common mistakes can help reduce those feelings of stress when dealing with the BBS. Mistake #1: Not understanding the BBS’ role According to their website, “The Board of Behavioral Sciences is a California state regulatory agency responsible for licensing, examination, and […]

Over the years, I’ve seen a lot of applications. Caldwell-Clark, a nonprofit I co-founded, regularly hires prelicensed MFTs for paid positions. We tend to get good interest in those openings when they happen. And in the years I spent as core faculty for a graduate program, I saw hundreds of applications from students eager to get in to that program. In both contexts, the application process can be nerve-wracking for applicants, and frustrating for people like me who are responsible for evaluating the applications. People who would likely be great students, great employees, and great therapists can easily be overlooked […]

Last month, my husband and I attended the LB-SB CAMFT Job Fair in order to represent Prelicensed and sponsor the professional headshots that were offered to attendees. We thoroughly enjoyed our time there (meeting dozens of Prelicensed followers in person was the best part!), and now that we’ve had an opportunity to reflect on our experiences, we’d like to share some observations that we believe will benefit readers who plan to attend MFT job fairs and other recruiting/hiring events. The different types of behaviors and mannerisms that attendees displayed over the course of the job fair were what stood out to […]

Unfortunately, horrible bosses exist, even in the mental health field where we supposedly want to make a positive impact on other people’s lives. While you may not have experienced behavior as atrocious as what’s portrayed in the movie Horrible Bosses, you may find yourself in a position that’s overseen by a person who comes across as incompetent or inappropriate in the work setting. I recently sat on a panel that discussed finding, choosing, and getting the most out of MFT internships. One attendee stated that they enjoy their clients and like the company they work for; however, their interactions with their boss […]

Thanks to Paid MFT Internships, MFT registered interns across California have discovered more positions that allow them to get hours and get paid! Even though we make finding paid opportunities easier than ever, some interns may consider accepting an unpaid internship in lieu of, or in addition to, a paid internship. Before saying “yes” or “no” to a prospective employer, it’s important to consider several variables, all of which affect interns in different ways. The Six-Year Rule Unfortunately, some interns struggle to accumulate the 3000 hours required for licensure within the six-year time frame permitted by the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS). Interns who are under pressure to […]